NEW Wales boss Wayne Pivac finally gets the chance to stamp his authority on the job on the afternoon Saturday, February 1. He could do without having a work experience kid out there at Principality Stadium.

After a week with his players in November and then the uncapped fixture against the Barbarians, it really matters against Italy when Six Nations points are on the line.

It will be a surprise if it's not a victory with a bonus but this is proper Test rugby and a vital game for the first new national coach in 12 years.

Pivac, who names his Six Nations squad on Wednesday, has been on a watching brief since leaving the Scarlets last May, doing the rounds at the regions' training grounds and watching closely in Newport, Cardiff, Swansea and Llanelli with his deputies.

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His chances have been hit by injuries to key figures, especially centre Jonathan Davies, but Pivac will want to hit the ground running in a tough first year at the helm that features away trips to Ireland, England and New Zealand.

Yet there is talk of Wales treating the Italy opener like a Friday night Test in the autumn by shoehorning a bright prospect into their matchday 23 to ensure England can't get their grubby mitts on him.

South Wales Argus:

The rapid rise of Gloucester winger Louis Rees-Zammit has been incredible. The 18-year-old from Cardiff is the great Cherry and White hope, a player of undoubted promise.

Yesterday the speedster was named as Premiership player of the month for December, just reward for a stunning month.

Stats company Opta stated that he scored the most tries (6), made the most breaks (14) and recorded the highest average gain (10.6 metres, minimum of 25 carries) out of any player in Europe's three top leagues.

The lad clearly knows the way to the try line and has been praised to the hilt by a glut of pundits and former professionals.

But he has played eight senior games. Let's all calm down.

A few good club outings should not automatically lead to Test honours, especially in a position as crowded as the Wales wing.

Pivac will name Josh Adams on one flank after his stunning World Cup but has a glut of options for full-back and the other wing.

Leigh Halfpenny was immense for the Scarlets over the festive period, which surely should put him in pole position to edge out his fellow Lion Liam Williams even if the Llanelli-bound Saracen wins his fitness battle.

That would leave Williams, George North, Johnny McNicholl, Owen Lane, Hallam Amos, Steff Evans and Ashton Hewitt as other SENIOR options out wide.

The notion of leaving one of them out just to capture a player who has already made it quite clear he is Welsh and committed to Wales is ridiculous.

What sort of signal is that to send to talented young players who are staying at the Dragons, Cardiff Blues, Ospreys and Scarlets?

South Wales Argus:

Hewitt, who is only uncapped because of cruel luck, is a prime example.

The 25-year-old from Newport endured a miserable time after suffering a shoulder injury with Wales ahead of the 2018 summer tour, when he was guaranteed to make his Test bow against either South Africa or Argentina.

Livewire Hewitt could have moved over the border but instead signed a fresh deal at Rodney Parade last summer, no doubt with the aim of converting international call-ups into international appearances.

He was next in line against the Barbarians last November, warmed up with the squad at Principality Stadium and was interviewed by former Dragons teammate Ed Jackson at half-time.

It would be hard for Hewitt to stomach a youngster getting an outing against Italy ahead of him, purely to put an end to speculation that another country is watching him, all that despite a lack of evidence that the individual would be tempted away from Wales.

The feeling would be the same for the Scarlets' Evans and one can't help but feel strong performances for Premiership clubs get greater credit in some quarters than those for the regions, perhaps helped by the excellent but cheerleader coverage of the league from BT Sport.

This is nothing personal against Rees-Zammit and these words could look daft if the talented teenager gets to the level that many believe he is destined for.

But Test rugby is just too much, too soon. Just let the kid keep playing at Kingsholm and learn from playing for a club that will be in the mix for the Gallagher Premiership play-offs.

Rees-Zammit's time will come and Wales must be more confident about the attraction of the red jersey.